Dear readers,

A shaky and wavering summertime in our home is underway.  For these scorching weeks, many of us have been stressed over the disputes relating to the legislative amendment exercise of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance.  The atmosphere of the society has become weary, distrustful and grievous.  Whatever stance we hold, we are under the same roof thereby craving Hong Kong to be a better place to live.  Because of the love for this city, people have recently lodged different demands which may make their opponents think they are avaricious.  In fact, the majority of them do not mind exerting blood, sweat, and tears as well as rejecting aggression, irrationality and savagery for a bright future.  Among all widespread demands, the offer of a "sincere apology" by the embattled officials was raised at the rather early stage.

Launched by this Centre in 2015-16, the Social Enterprise Startup Scheme has been encouraging CUHK students and recent graduates to make good use of their expertise to establish or expand social enterprises.  Participants of the scheme will be enrolled in a mentorship programme through which valuable advice on formulating business plan and practical skills of running an enterprise will be offered by experienced alumni in a one-on-one manner.  The horizon and business network of participants are also expected to be widened.  With the CUSE Fund set up under the scheme, participants will be able to create sustainable social impact on the society.

CUHK Bridge to China Team is a university volunteering team formed under this Centre with the support and guidance from Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation.  Since 2009, the team has participated and organised numerous investigation trips on villages, bridge building projects and public health programmes with the help of students.

The Student Development Portfolio (SDP) is a university-wide electronic platform for capturing and presenting students' Experiential Learning Activities (ELA) under the I·CARE framework.  Its major functions for students include: (1) viewing of ELA offered by various units of the University; (2) updating and maintaining participation records; and (3) producing ELA Report to showcase learning achievements.  As for the University units, they could make use of the SDP to facilitate students' enrolment for ELA and generate basic statistics for future planning of ELA.

The I·CARE Social Service Projects Scheme encourages students to organise and implement self-initiated social services.  Three rounds of vetting are conducted in each academic year so that students may submit applications in accordance with the commencement date of their projects and the amount of funds required.  While the projects could take place in Hong Kong, the Mainland or overseas, they must be initiated by students.

To commemorate the first year after the passing of Professor Sir Charles Kao, former Vice-Chancellor of CUHK and Nobel Prize Laureate, the Charles K. Kao Foundation for Alzheimer's Disease will organise the "Remembering Charles" exhibition in September and October this year.  The exhibition is going to highlight Professor Kao's lifetime achievements and outstanding contribution.  His artwork produced during his treatment by art therapy from 2013 to 2018 will also be showcased.  On the other hand, there will be interactive installations to enhance public's understanding of dementia.

Yunus Social Business Centre@CUHK, a subsidiary of this Centre, led a delegation of six students and alumni to Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17-23 June 2019.  They visited two social businesses under the Grameen Family of Organisations and a social innovative project run by the non-governmental organisation, Building Resources Across Communities (BRAC), to study their different modes of intervention in the society.

The I·CARE NGO Internship Programme collaborates with the non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Hong Kong, Mainland and Taiwan to offer internship opportunities to students.  It provides students with a better understanding of the services of the NGOs and enables them to reflect on their values and their connection with the communities from a wider perspective.  Participants of the Hong Kong programme are furthered to gain first-hand experience of interacting with different people of the local community so as to stimulate ideas in positive social changes; whereas participants of the Mainland and Taiwan programme will experience the culture and livelihood of the places, in addition to gaining knowledge of community work.

Further to their visit in end-2018, the Office of Student Affairs of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) was received by this Centre on 12 June 2019.  This time, the delegation consisted of five staff members and four student helpers from their Social Practice Centre.

This Centre is entrusted with the administration of the I·CARE Programme which was launched in 2011 committing to offering informal whole-person education to students based on the I·CARE Framework.  In line with its motto "Aspiration through Reflection; Renewal through Civility", the I·CARE Programme aims to inspire students to actively partake in social and civic services.  It also facilitates the release of students' holistic competencies so that they will become able to enhance the wellness of people in the local, regional and global communities.

In summer holidays i.e. May to August, the eNewsletter of I·CARE Centre for Whole-person Development is issued every two months instead of on monthly basis.  The next one will be published on 15 September 2019.  The Event Calendar included in this eNewsletter is also suspended until August 2019.